The award-winning Pharmabees project aims to develop a Manuka-style honey to treat antibiotic resistant hospital pathogens. Cutting edge research exploring how the pollination of certain plants could lead to the development of drugs to treat serious medical conditions now resistant to traditional antibiotics – otherwise known as ‘superbugs’.

“After water, tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world. In addition to making us feel good, tea is thought to help reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and diabetes. In laboratory studies, tea has revealed its ability to kill hospital superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.”

“Imagine the further benefits which could be obtained by combining tea with natural honey and medicinal plants. Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat a range of conditions, including the common cold.”

“Our partnership with Welsh Brew Tea is all part of our work to develop honey with similar bug-killing powers to that of New Zealand’s Manuka honey and its antibacterial properties, which are due to natural compounds donated by the plants on which the bees fed to make the honey.”

Professor Les Baillie, Professor of Microbiology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Adopt-a-Hive scheme

Welsh Brew Tea are also supporting the Adopt-a-Hive scheme, which was developed by a leading Wales learning technology company, Aspire2Bee, along with with Cardiff University to encourage school pupils to learn about the importance of bees and beekeeping. The company aims to engage schools, businesses and individuals to adopt their very own hive (and beekeeper) as they grow and learn to build a natural, sustainable future.

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“We are delighted to be teaming up with Professor Les Baillie and his Pharmabees team at Cardiff University to develop an entirely new premium beverage that will enhance our range of high-quality teas,”

“Innovation in tea production, and the search for new ideas and tastes, led us to found the company twenty years ago, and is still its driving force today. The project is a nice example of the university working with Welsh industry to develop a product based on the natural bounty of Wales, supporting the wellbeing of the people of Wales.”

Alan Wenden, Welsh Brew Tea

“We are delighted to add this project to our portfolio of innovations that support both the health and wealth of Wales.”

Robyn Davies, Head of Innovation at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

The Welsh Brew project is supported by the South East Wales Academic Health Science Partnership and a Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS 2), funded by European Social Funds (ESF) through Welsh Government with the aim of linking companies with academic expertise to develop new products.

It follows the successful launch of honey beer in 2017 when Cardiff teamed up with Bridgend’s BangOn Brewery. The Pharmabees bee-friendly campus project scooped the Sustainability award at the Guardian University Awards 2017. It also supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) training across the city of Cardiff.